Anchor Bancorp Reports Net Income of $1.3 Million or $0.52 Per Diluted Share for the First Fiscal Quarter of 2019

LACEY, Wash., Oct. 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anchor Bancorp (NASDAQ - ANCB) (“Company”), the holding company for Anchor Bank (“Bank”), today reported first quarter earnings for its fiscal year ending June 30, 2019. For the quarter ended September 30, 2018, the Company reported net income of $1.3 million or $0.52 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.0 million or $0.43 per diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.

"I am pleased with our results and the continued decline in our efficiency ratio to 67.7% for the first quarter," stated Jerald L. Shaw, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our deposits increased $6.6 million from June 30, 2018, reflecting the continued success of our deposit gathering initiatives. Our efforts resulted in the return on average assets increasing nine basis points to 1.09% as compared to last quarter," stated Mr. Shaw.

Fiscal First Quarter Highlights

• Return on average assets for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 increased to 1.09% compared to 0.93% for the quarter ended September 30,2017;
• Net interest income before provision for loan losses increased $377,000, or 8.7%, to $4.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to $4.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2017;
• The efficiency ratio improved to 67.7% for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 from 71.2% for the quarter ended September 30, 2017;
• Net interest margin ("NIM") was 4.29% for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to 4.14% for the quarter ended September 30, 2017;
• Total delinquent loans (past due 30 days or more), decreased $500,000, or 25.0%, to $1.5 million at September 30, 2018 from $2.0 million at June 30, 2018; and
• Return on average equity for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 was 8.18% compared to 6.85% for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.

Balance Sheet Review

Total assets increased by $9.2 million, or 2.0%, to $478.9 million at September 30, 2018 from $469.7 million at June 30, 2018. Cash and cash equivalents increased by $33.0 million, or 187.7%, to $50.5 million at September 30, 2018, from $17.6 million at June 30, 2018, reflecting proceeds received from increased loan repayments.  Securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity decreased $908,000, or 5.1%, and $297,000 or 8.3%, respectively, during the recent quarter compared to June 30, 2018.  The decreases in these portfolios were primarily the result of contractual principal repayments.

Loans receivable, net, decreased $22.8 million, or 5.8%, to $369.3 million at September 30, 2018 from $392.0 million at June 30, 2018 due primarily to a decrease in construction loans. Construction loans decreased $21.8 million, or 25.3%, to $64.1 million at September 30, 2018 from $85.9 million at June 30, 2018.  There was $21.8 million in undisbursed construction loan commitments at September 30, 2018. Our construction loans are primarily for the construction of single-family properties and to a lesser extent, loans for the construction of multi-family and commercial properties. Commercial business loans decreased $7.2 million, or 35.6%, to $13.1 million at September 30, 2018 from $20.3 million at June 30, 2018.  Multi-family loans decreased $1.3 million, or 2.3%, to $56.3 million at September 30, 2018 from $57.6 million at June 30, 2018.  Land loans decreased $382,000, or 6.9%, to $5.1 million at September 30, 2018 from $5.5 million at June 30, 2018. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in commercial real estate loans of $6.4 million, or 4.3%, to $156.5 million at September 30, 2018 from $150.1 million at June 30, 2018. One-to-four family loans increased $1.3 million, or 2.1%, to $63.4 million at September 30, 2018 from $62.1 million at June 30, 2018.  Consumer loans increased $251,000, or 1.6%, to $16.2 million at September 30, 2018 from $15.9 million at June 30, 2018.

Loans receivable consisted of the following at the dates indicated:

Total liabilities increased $8.0 million to $410.2 million at September 30, 2018 from $402.2 million at June 30, 2018, primarily as the result of an increase of $6.6 million in deposits.  Deposits increased primarily due to a $11.6 million increase in interest bearing demand deposits, a $4.3 million increase in noninterest bearing demand deposits, and a $2.6 million increase in savings deposits partially offset by a decreases of $7.6 million and $4.3 million in money market accounts and in certificates of deposit, respectively. The increase in demand deposits was the result of the Bank's deposit marketing campaign, as well as other deposit gathering activities.

Deposits consisted of the following at the dates indicated:

Credit Quality

Total delinquent loans (past due 30 days or more), decreased $500,000 to $1.5 million at September 30, 2018 from $2.0 million at June 30, 2018.  At September 30, 2018 and June 30, 2018 the percentage of nonperforming loans, consisting solely of nonaccrual loans, to total loans remained the same at 0.2%. The Company recorded a $50,000 provision for loan losses for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.  The allowance for loan losses of $4.4 million at September 30, 2018 represented 1.2% of total loans and 497.8% of nonperforming loans. This compares to an allowance of $4.4 million at June 30, 2018, representing 1.1% of total loans and 466.9% of nonperforming loans.

Nonperforming loans decreased to $888,000 at September 30, 2018, from $936,000 at June 30, 2018, and were $1.5 million at September 30, 2017.  Nonperforming loans consisted of the following at the dates indicated:

As of September 30, 2018, the Company had three real estate owned ("REO") properties with an aggregate book value of $742,000 compared to two properties with an aggregate book value of $737,000 at June 30, 2018, and four properties with an aggregate book value of $2.7 million at September 30, 2017.

Capital

As of September 30, 2018, the Bank was considered "well capitalized" in accordance with its regulatory capital guidelines and exceeded all regulatory capital requirements with Tier 1 Leverage-Based Capital, Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ("CET1"), Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital, and Total Risk-Based Capital ratios of 13.9%, 17.1%, 17.1%, and 18.2% respectively.  As of September 30, 2017, the Bank's Tier 1 Leverage-Based Capital, CET1, Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital, and Total Risk-Based Capital ratios were 13.3%, 14.0%, 14.0%, and 14.9%, respectively.

Anchor Bancorp exceeded all regulatory capital requirements with Tier 1 Leverage-Based Capital, CET1, Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital, and Total Risk-Based Capital ratios of 14.8%, 18.1%, 18.1%, and 19.3% as of September 30, 2018.  As of September 30, 2017, the Company's Tier 1 Leverage-Based Capital, CET1, Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital, and Total Risk-Based Capital ratios were 14.4%, 15.0%, 15.0%, and 16.0%, respectively.

Operating Results

Net interest income. Net interest income before the provision for loan losses increased $377,000, or 8.7%, to $4.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to $4.3 million for the same period last year primarily due to a 41 basis point increase in the average yield on loans receivable, net.

The Company's net interest margin was 4.29% for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to 4.14% for the quarter ended September 30, 2017. The average yield on loans receivable, net, increased 41 basis points to 5.72% for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to 5.31% for the same period of the prior year, reflecting rate increases. The average yield on mortgage-backed securities increased to 2.23% for the current quarter from 2.05% for the same period in the prior year primarily due to a decrease of large principal pay downs resulting in an increase in amortization of premiums. The average yield on interest-earning assets increased 24 basis points to 5.29% from 5.05% for the quarters ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The average cost of total deposits increased eight basis points to 1.21% for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to 1.13% for the same period in the prior year.  The average cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased 15 basis points to 1.29% for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to 1.14% for the same period in the prior year, reflecting the increase in the targeted federal funds rate over the last year.

Provision for loan losses. In connection with its analysis of the loan portfolio, management determined that a $50,000 provision for loan losses was required for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to $75,000 for the same period last year, primarily reflecting loan credit quality a decrease in our loan portfolio.

Noninterest income. Noninterest income decreased $23,000, or 2.0%, to $1.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to $1.2 million for the same period in the previous year.  The decrease in noninterest income is primarily attributable to the $112,000, or 101.8%, decrease in sale of loans in the quarter ended September 30, 2018 to a loss of $2,000 compared to a gain of $110,000 for the same quarter a year ago due to no loan sales during the current quarter.  The decrease was offset by an increase in other income of $148,000, or 76.7%, to $341,000, compared to the same quarter a year ago primarily due to $242,000 of prepayment penalties in the current quarter.  Deposit service fees decreased $52,000, or 16.6% for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same quarter last year due to our Shelton branch closure.

Noninterest expense. Noninterest expense increased $48,000, or 1.2%, for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 to $4.0 million from $3.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.  The increase was primarily due to a $232,000 increase in merger expenses due to our pending merger with FS Bancorp, Inc. ("FS Bancorp") and a $50,000 REO impairment on a single-family property to reflect its fair market value.  These increases were partially offset by a $122,000, or 5.9% decrease in, compensation expense and smaller decreases in nearly all other noninterest expenses.  The decrease in compensation expense was primarily due to reduced staffing resulting from our Shelton branch closure and a $35,000 reduction in stock based compensation awarded under the Anchor Bancorp 2015 Equity Plan to $12,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 from $47,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.

About the Company
Anchor Bancorp is headquartered in Lacey, Washington and is the parent company of Anchor Bank, a community-based savings bank primarily serving Western Washington through its nine full-service banking offices within Grays Harbor, Thurston, Lewis, and Pierce counties, and one loan production office located in King County, Washington. The Company's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "ANCB" and is included in the Russell 2000 Index. For more information, visit the Company's web site www.anchornetbank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:
Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations of the business environment in which we operate, projections of future performance, perceived opportunities in the market, potential future credit experience, and statements regarding our mission and vision. These forward-looking statements are based upon current management expectations and may, therefore, involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results, performance, or achievements may differ materially from those suggested, expressed, or implied by forward-looking statements as a result of a wide variety or range of factors including, but not limited to: the Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Merger Agreement”) with FS Bancorp may be terminated in accordance with its terms, and the merger may not be completed; conditions to the closing of the pending merger with FS Bancorp may not be satisfied, including the approval by our shareholders; delays in closing our pending merger with FS Bancorp; termination of the Merger Agreement could negatively impact us; we will be subject to business uncertainties and contractual restrictions while the merger is pending; the Merger Agreement limits our ability to pursue an alternative acquisition proposal and requires us to pay a termination fee of $2.7 million under limited circumstances relating to alternative acquisition proposals; increased competitive pressures; changes in the interest rate environment; the credit risks of lending activities, including changes in the level and trend of loan delinquencies and write-offs that may be impacted by deterioration in the housing and commercial real estate markets and may lead to increased losses and nonperforming assets in our loan portfolio, and may result in our allowance for loan losses not being adequate to cover actual losses, and require us to materially increase our reserves; changes in general economic conditions and conditions within the securities markets; legislative and regulatory changes; results of examinations of us by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and our bank subsidiary by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Banks or other regulatory authorities, including the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, require us to increase our reserve for loan losses, write-down assets, change our regulatory capital position or affect our ability to borrow funds or maintain or increase deposits, which could adversely affect our liquidity and earnings and other factors described in the Company’s latest annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission-which are available on our website at www.anchornetbank.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Any of the forward-looking statements that we make in this Press Release and in the other public statements we make may turn out to be wrong because of the inaccurate assumptions we might make, because of the factors illustrated above or because of other factors that we cannot foresee. Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by or on our behalf and the Company's operating and stock price performance may be negatively affected. Therefore, these factors should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.  These risks could cause our actual results for fiscal 2019 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by, or on behalf of us, and could negatively affect the Company’s operations and stock price performance.

⁽¹⁾ Net income divided by average total assets, annualized.
⁽²⁾ Net income divided by average equity, annualized.
⁽³⁾ Average equity divided by average total assets.
⁽⁴⁾ Difference between weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and weighted average rate on interest-bearing liabilities.
⁽⁵⁾ Net interest income as a percentage of average interest-earning assets.
⁽⁶⁾ Noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.
⁽⁷⁾ Tangible book value per common share excludes intangible assets. Tangible assets excludes intangible assets. This ratio represents a non-GAAP financial measure. See also Non-GAAP Financial Measures reconciliation in the table below.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
In addition to results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles utilized in the United States ("GAAP”), this earnings release contains the tangible book value per share, a non-GAAP financial measure. We calculate tangible common equity by excluding intangible assets from stockholders’ equity. We calculate tangible book value per share by dividing tangible common equity by the number of common shares outstanding.  We calculate tangible common equity by excluding intangible assets from stockholders' equity. The Company believes that this measure is consistent with the capital treatment by our bank regulatory agencies, which excludes intangible assets from the calculation of risk-based capital ratios and presents this measure to facilitate comparison of the quality and composition of the Company's capital over time and in comparison to its competitors. This non-GAAP financial measure has inherent limitations, is not required to be uniformly applied and is not audited. Further, the non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for book value per share or total stockholders' equity determined in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Reconciliations of the GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures are presented below.

Contact:
Jerald L. Shaw, President and Chief Executive Officer
Terri L. Degner, EVP and Chief Financial Officer
Anchor Bancorp
(360) 491-2250